"You need to prune them -- if there's too much vine (leaf) growing, it weakens the fruit," so he recommends cutting back sections of the growing vine.

One leafy green vegetable growing in Howell's garden -- callaloo --may be unfamiliar to Staten Islanders unless their heritage is traced back to the Caribbean.

Howell's callaloo seedlings were just taking off this week.

Also known as Chinese spinach, callaloo is a mainstay in Jamaican and other Caribbean cuisine, its leaves packed with fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.

"Come back in a month to see these plants," said Howell, promising that the now-small seedlings will be soaring four feet and taller.

He explained how callaloo is paired with dried salt cod (think Italian baccala, Staten Islanders!) in traditional Jamaican recipes, and explained the preparation in the short video clip included here.

WEST BRIGHTON IS NOT JAMAICA

Howell's North Shore garden differs dramatically from the one he tended in his native Jamaica.

His family's farm -- with over 15 acres planted in sugar cane -- also yielded plantains, yellow yams, banana and coconut. The farm is still family owned and now leased, said Howell, who travels back frequently to the Jamaican homestead.

Sitting at the bright yellow-painted picnic table in his back yard, Howell also recounted pride in other things he helped to grow -- his children.

His oldest son, Winston, is a physician with a medical practice in Buffalo, N.Y., where Howell's youngest daughter, Pamela, with a master's degree in business administration, runs her brother's clinic.

Son Edward Jr. is a chemical engineer working with the multinational Dupont corporation in Georgia.

Courtney, another son, is a Department of Education teacher in Brooklyn.

Howell's first-born daughter, Karen, is a nurse, and second-born, Elora, a teacher, along with her sister Doneeth.

"All of my kids are professionals, and I'm so proud of them," said Howell.

Howell was born in Jamaica's Clarendon parish -- west of Kingston -- the second oldest of eight children, including a twin brother who died of dehydration before reaching his second birthday.

Howell's mother passed away in January, in Jamaica, at the age of 100.